American flag

The first day of preschool in my class is dedicated to learning how to be a preschooler. We have lots of fun as we play getting-to-know-you games and learn the daily classroom routines. I also teach them about the American flag and we say the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Pledge of Allegiance is an important part of our daily routine but 3 and 4 year olds are pretty much clueless on what a country is, let alone why we have a flag and solute it. So, we start by discussing that our country is called the United States of America. I show them our flag and then we learn the Pledge of Allegiance.

With 3 and 4 year olds, it is important to teach the concepts in small little bites. Their attention spans are short. Often the greatest challenge is in identifying our right hand to put on our hearts. A couple of brilliant preschoolers started putting both hands on their heart knowing at one of them was the right one! That was OK with me. LOL

Touching moment for me: at our school orientation this year a mom told me that her little girl, who had been in my class 2 years prior, was the champion of her new school the next year. When they said the Pledge of Allegiance on their first day, she was the only student in the class who knew the pledge and she said it perfectly. Her new teachers were amazed. That story was such a blessing to hear. Patience and repetition pays off!

I just bought new book about the American flag, Why Are There Stripes on The American Flag by Martha E.H. Rustad, to use with my lesson this year. It has enough words in it that I will have to abbreviate it a little bit when I read it to my class. I don’t lose my young audience. If the story has too many words, I lose them. The book is actually perfect for 1st graders but certainly can be adapted to preschool and kindergarten, as well. The illustrations are so pretty and bright. My little kiddos will love it!

The Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America.

And to the republic for which it stands

one nation

under God

indivisible

with liberty and justice for all.

In addition to teaching the pledge of allegiance and about the flag, we make a very cute American flag craft using Cheerios as stars. Learn how to make it here>> American Flag Craft for Preschoolers

Another thing we did is we had a parade! We marched around the classroom waving little US flags and singing You’re A Grand Old Flag (mostly the teachers sang but the kids had fun, too!)

Each new school year, on the first day of school, I teach my preschoolers the Pledge of Allegiance. Most of them come in knowing the US flag. They either call it “the flag” or blurt out “America” when I ask them what it is. (So far no one has said “Play Ball!!!” but it’s coming, I just know it.)

Patriotism is not nearly as popular today as it was when I was a little girl. I am glad to be an American. If I had been born in the UK or Canada or Australia or wherever, I’d be proud of that country but I was born here and it makes me glad.

So, the three things I teach my students above all are 1) how to pray 2) the Pledge of Allegiance and 3) the all-important “how to cut with scissors”– inspiring huh? Of course, we learn to take turns, to be kind, the ABC’s etc but those are my top three.

To support our lesson, we did a simple craft: the American Flag.
My students are 3 and 4 years old. Glue sticks and following directions are brand new to them, so I made this first project very simple.

Each child was given an outline of the flag (link below) and three pre-cut red stripes plus one blue rectangle. Their task was to glue the stripes and rectangle on the paper using a glue stick. Then we adults put little dots of Elmer’s glue on the field of blue and they placed Cheerios cereal to be the stars. Stars and stripes — The American Flag!

Only one student ate her Cheerios. When I showed up at her seat, I looked all over and playfully said, “Arista? Did I forget to give you Cheerios?” Impish grin. “Did you EAT your Cheerios?” Impish grin again. “Just a minute, I’ll get you some more.” Cuter than cute.